Optus Single Service Desk: FWC hearing
The CWU appeared before Commissioner Johns at the Fair Work Commission on Monday 6 March in relation to a dispute we have lodged on behalf of Optus members.
The dispute arises out of a restructuring of Optus’ help desk functions which has resulted in employees taking on extra duties with inadequate training and no extra pay.
Optus’ position to date has been that the changes in duties don’t warrant a change in employees’ banding levels and that under the Optus salary structure, actual pay within each level (except for the floor) is at the discretion of Optus.
The CWU of course believes that more complex and demanding work should attract higher pay.
At the 6 March conciliation conference, the FWC directed Optus to re-examine the job descriptions of the employees involved to see whether they adequately reflected the work they are now performing.
Optus is to provide the CWU with any revised version of these job descriptions. It must also provide details of any relevant training that it proposes to deliver and details of any remuneration reviews that it has conducted since the employees took up their current roles.
This information will form the basis of further attempts by the CWU to resolve this matter with Optus. If no progress is made the issue will go back to the FWC, probably next month.
